Everton & Inter are set to battle it out for Swiss star

Everton are set to rival Inter Milan for the signing of Swiss international midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Reports in Switzerland suggest that both Everton and Inter have been keeping tabs on the Borussia Monchengladbach youngster.

And according to Swiss website Infoticker.ch, both are now ready to formalise their interest after being impressed by the 21-year-old’s performance during Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Albania which saw his side qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

Kosovo-born Xhaka moved to Gladbach from Basel for a £7.2m fee in 2012 and has already represented his country at senior level on 20 occasions.

The midfielder, who has been compared to Bastien Schweinsteiger by Ottmar Hitzfeld, has a contract that runs until 2017 in Germany.

Last year former Basel and now Hamburg coach Thomas Fink said: “Xherdan Shaqiri is the best talent in Switzerland…after Granit Xhaka.”

It now remains to be seen whether Everton are able to lure the promising midfielder to Goodison Park before he can be snapped up by Inter.